1975 Portersville Steam Show Report Or Whew We Made It

Tom Downing

| March/April 1976

H. E. Beckemeyer

This was taken before we built the Shed. The Showground is in back. A natural, people seem to like it very much, especially at that time of year. Courtesy of E. G. Huppert, R.R. 1, Box 437, Solon Springs, Wisconsin 54873.E. G. Huppert

R. D. 1, Box 141A, Ellwood City, Penna. 16117

With an additional report on The Natural Outdoor Acupuncture
Clinic specializing in needles from crab apple and white-thorn with
poison ivy at no extra charge.

The Northwestern Pa. Steam Engine and Old Equipment Association
held its 13th annual show and the first at The New Grounds August
1, 2, and 3 at Portersville, Pa. The weather was the hottest of the
year setting records for the Pittsburgh area and that didn't
help our crowd much, but at least it wasn't muddy as many shows
were this year. With our enlarged grounds this year we were able to
accommodate many more flea markets and craft displays. Also, at
last a nice grassy, shaded area for the antique cars was available
away from the soot. The Pittsburgh Chapter of HCCA graciously
included us in a tour schedule and brought 16 or 17
'Beauties' in to add to our display. Jimmy Postle wait had
his polished stone jewelry and leatherwork on display and Mrs.
Miller was making apple head and corn husk dolls. We were very
pleased to welcome back Rob Szakelhidi and his fine pottery
exhibit, and demonstrations. New Steam this year included a big
Portable Frick 9-1/2 x 10 newly acquired and refurbished for saw
mill power, a stationary eclipse return flue outfit for stationary
engines and a small upright for the steam kettle. Alas, it was too
hot for ham and beans which was a big favorite before. Bill Henry
and Tom Downing took on the Frick project with a big hand from
Bupp's farm equipment shop, Harold, Allen, Richard and some
equipment from Darrel Williams. Sand blasting, painting, new rear
axle wood, and new gaskets were obvious needs but the 54 new tubes
became an obvious necessity only after water was added. A big
project but well worth it, as it should serve for some years to
come. It also supplied steam to blow the whistle donated from the
U.S. Steel Tube Mill in Ellwood City which made Shelby Seamless
Tubing for Hundreds of Boilers for 70 or more years.

The efforts of Paul and Viva Boehm led to a beautiful exhibit of
gas engines again including Wayne Young's 13 H.P. ball and
Steve Frest's 20 H.P. clerk cycle Reid, both from the local oil
fields. I'm not sure if we set a record on gas engines, but it
must have been close.

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Good co-operations from our parking and gate crews were money
savers this year and our new display barn and cook-house worked out
to great advantage. Carrie Blizman and the girls set a great mark
and probably saved most of us from heat prostration by selling over
1600 sno-cones in 3 days.

Several tractors showed up new this year including a 40-62 Huber
and a Caterpillar 15 Agricultural Tractor both to be restored, we
hope for next year. At least two Fordsons and a Big Allis-Chalmers
are already on the docket for next year.

I suppose it is impossible to write a report and not forget to
mention some of the hard working individuals, but we certainly want
to thank them all and perhaps especially the old standbys who spent
long days and hours through the winter and spring-clearing,
grading, building and planting for the meeting of this goal of a
permanent home. Harold Bupp, headed the committee with Bud Beiber
and Darrel Williams, his best assistants, and Allen and Richard
Bupp doing much of the machine operating and hauling. The women
contributed a lot too, with many picnic suppers, so work could go
on into lengthening evenings.

Since the show we have had several additional donations
including a bread oven which will handle up to 120 loaves at a
time, a toaster (not as big), a freezer and a cabinet refrigerator.
We are negotiating for an oil well rig, a rail road station, and a
log house. In the meanwhile, we have attacked the rest of the thorn
thickets and poison ivy and two or three more weekends should have
us ready for grading of another road, railroad and display and
building sites. The thorn thickets have been jokingly referred to
as our outdoor acupuncture clinic and we all have scars to show for
it. Some also have enjoyed the free posion ivy.

Plans are well under way for the Big '76 Bicentennial Show
August 6, 7, and 8 and with this year's start we can easily
guarantee a bigger and better show than ever.